Chad Pipkens’ full quote this morning on “Bassmaster LIVE” was, “They’re coming back to where we caught them in practice.” The bass haven’t moved there yet, as Pipkens noted, but the closer they get into the grass and structure where these anglers found them in practice before the water level jumped, the more explosive Pickwick Lake is going to be.
Consider the first day of practice Keith Combs had, exactly one week ago today. He estimated he would have topped the 30-pound mark with his best five, which included a 10-pounder.
“I figured out a little deal throwing a Strike King Thunder Cricket,” Combs said. “It was setting up like fishing at home on Rayburn and Toledo Bend. There were in these little drains that developed into a current break. The first day was lights out. I had a 10, a 7, three more in the 5-pound class and I don’t know how many fours.”
Combs found two more solid patterns in practice, but all three disappeared under all the water that postponed the tournament for two days. He finished 95th with a two-day total of 7-7. Combs said he just wasn’t able to locate where the fish had moved. But he thinks Pipkens has figured out where one big school went.
“They slid up behind an island,” Combs said. “Chad found them.”
Pipkens began the day in 6th place, 6-4 behind leader Koby Kreiger, and he’s got three keepers totaling 10 pounds early today.